Is Livingston's Hap the same as Haplochromis livingstonii?

The current accepted name is Nimbochromis livingstonii; Haplochromis livingstonii is an older synonym still seen in the trade.

How large does Livingston's Hap get?

FishBase lists males up to about 25 cm total length, so this is a large predator cichlid for adult planning.

Can it live with small fish?

No. It is a predator cichlid and small fish may be eaten.

What water does it need?

Use hard, alkaline Lake Malawi conditions around 24-28C and pH 7.5-8.5.

Livestock is sent by licensed live-animal courier and covered by the Tropical Fish Co Live Arrival Guarantee when the policy conditions are followed.

Livingston's Hap (Nimbochromis livingstonii) Lake Malawi cichlid - hero view — representative image

A large predatory Lake Malawi hap, famous for sleeper-ambush behaviour and mottled camouflage. For experienced Malawi keepers.

deal-run-20260422-180310

Care at a Glance

Scientific Name

Nimbochromis livingstonii

Max Adult Size

up to 25 cm

Lifespan

10 years

Care Level

Moderate

Temperament

Semi-aggressive

Temperature

24–28°C

pH Range

7.5–8.5

Hardness

10–25 dGH

Minimum Tank

400L

Diet

Cichlid pellets, frozen foods, spirulina flakes

Adult size is the maximum length this species reaches at full maturity (scientific sources). The livestock you receive will be younger and smaller — pick a size variant above for the actual shipping size. Product-photo provenance and any image-specific limitations are stated on the listing.

Nimbochromis livingstonii

Livingston's Hap (Nimbochromis livingstonii) – 4–9cm & XL Sizes

Name: Livingston's Hap (Nimbochromis livingstonii) – 4–9cm & XL Sizes
Brand: Tropical Fish Co
SKU: 0477
Availability: InStock

Moderate Care

Semi-Aggressive

−11% Special OfferLimited stock offer

£7.11£7.99You save £0.88

Size: 4 - 5 cm

Multi-Buy Pricing

— save up to 20%

Save when buying multiple fish. Each quantity is one fish; sex and pair formation are not guaranteed unless the selected variant explicitly states them.

How many?

Selected fish

£7.11

Delivered on Thursday or Friday

Orders close every Friday at 5pm (UK time). We confirm the day in your tracking email.

Live arrival guaranteed. Full refund or replacement if they don’t arrive healthy. Packed in oxygenated bags with insulation and heat packs when needed.

£19.95 tracked delivery — half price (£9.98) from £100.00, free from £200.00. One delivery charge however many fish you add — everything travels together with a licensed live-animal courier.

Read our reviews on Google or see verified buyer reviews and photos. Human support, careful packing and clear delivery updates for live aquatics.

A large predatory Lake Malawi hap, famous for sleeper-ambush behaviour and mottled camouflage. For experienced Malawi keepers.

deal-run-20260422-180310

Care at a Glance

Scientific Name

Nimbochromis livingstonii

Max Adult Size

up to 25 cm

Lifespan

10 years

Care Level

Moderate

Temperament

Semi-aggressive

Temperature

24–28°C

pH Range

7.5–8.5

Hardness

10–25 dGH

Minimum Tank

400L

Diet

Cichlid pellets, frozen foods, spirulina flakes

Source-labelled Bolivian ram swimming above aquarium gravel

Full Care Guide

Cichlids: Types, Care & Tank Planning

Cichlids are a family of roughly 1,800 accepted species, not one care type. Before buying, identify the exact species and source, then compare adult measurement, usable tank dimensions, social system, territory, tested water, diet and an exit plan. No family-wide minimum tank, water range or tank-mate list is safe.

14 min readRead guide

Water Parameters

Maintain these water conditions for optimal health and vibrant colors

Temperature

24–28°C

24°CIdeal28°C

pH Level

7.5–8.5

7.5Ideal8.5

Water Hardness

10–25 dGH

10 dGHIdeal25 dGH

Livingston's Hap overview

Livingston's Hap (Nimbochromis livingstonii, formerly traded as Haplochromis livingstonii) is a large Lake Malawi predator cichlid known for mottled camouflage and sleeper-ambush behaviour. It is not a small community fish.

Quick facts

Sale size	4-5 cm on this variant; larger sizes may appear on the parent listing
Adult size	Up to about 25 cm
Minimum aquarium	400 litres or more for adult planning
Water	24-28°C, pH 7.5-8.5, hard alkaline Lake Malawi conditions
Diet	Predator cichlid pellets and suitable frozen foods

Care notes

Keep with robust Malawi cichlids of suitable size and temperament. Small fish may be eaten, and adult males need space, filtration and clear territory management.

Ordering from Tropical Fish Co

Livestock is packed for delivery by a licensed live-animal courier and covered by our Live Arrival Guarantee when the policy conditions are followed.

Species facts

Published records for Nimbochromis livingstonii — useful when planning the aquarium around the adult fish rather than the size supplied. The wild range below is what FishBase lists; the care range on this listing (24–28 °C) is what we keep the fish at.

Maximum recorded length: 25 cm (FishBase)
Wild water temperature: 25–28 °C (FishBase)
Wild pH: 8 (FishBase)
Wild hardness: 9–19 dGH (FishBase)
Environment: Freshwater, demersal (FishBase)
Where it lives: inshore areas of the lake over sandy substrates (Wikipedia)
IUCN Red List: Least Concern (FishBase)

Keeping notes

Hardness 10–25 dGH. Typical lifespan around 10 years with stable water. Swims mainly in the middle part of the aquarium. Recommended stocking: 1 male with 2-3 females. Breeding difficulty: moderate.